TRINIDAD - CALYPSO (1939 - 1959)

Following on from Frémeaux’s excellent « Bahamas – Goombay » and « Jamaica – Mento » overviews, the label now turns its attention to Trinidad and the acknowledged golden age of calypso. As with those earlier reissues, these two CDs are a delight from start to finish for lovers of vintage Caribbean music.
By the starting date of 1939, the basic from of modern calypso had been established, and it lasted until the onset of soca usurped its popularity in the 1980s (though of course it can still be found). Some of the titles here were later picked up and popularised by others – most notably Lord Invader’s 1943 recording. “Rum And Coca-Cola”, a huge hit fot The Andrews Sisters (did those clean cut girls really understand the song?), but there are also items which established Harry Belafonte in the 1950s (King Radio’s “Matilda” from 1939, which opens this anthology), and the notes make several references  to the film star Robert Mitchum, who also recorded calypso, oddly enough.
All the big names of the era are here : oldies such as wilmoth Houdini, The Roading Lion and The Duke Of Iron are present, alongside the likes of Lord Kitvhener, who arrived in England of the “Empire Windrush” in 1948, and whose ten titles here were recorded in the mother country, as he refers to it – and all are fascinating, often double-entendre and humorous (try “Woman’s Figure”, which my better half finds hilarious, or better still, “My Wife’s Nightie”), though he proves he can also beserious with “If You are Not White, You’re Considere black”. He returned home in the mid-sixties.  His only real competition  in terms of popularity, Slinger Francisco, The Mighty Sparrow, was the biggest  star of calypso  after the Second World War, and here  “The Birdie”, as he is known, sings of romance, Russian satellites, what would now be considered terrorism, Bermuda shorts, and calypso rival Lord Melody ; his “Reply To Melody” pulls no punches and his brutal in its put-downs!  It is fascinating to listen to his “No More Roccking & rolling”, though his optimism in calypso’s popularity was somewhat misplaced. Another music from is disparaged (“this monstrosity”) by UK-based Young Tiger in “Calypso Be-Bop”. Popular culture is also referenced in Lord Melody’s “Creature From The Black Lagoon”, taking its title from the well-known 1954 horror film – people keep saying how ugly Melody is. As ugly as the… oh you guessed! Mighty Terror’s “Chinese Children Calling Me Daddy’ is a long,  long way from political correctness, but then again, we also have “Female boxeur” by The Charmer, whose interest in calypso was stimulated  by the fact it could be used to put across political viewpoints –  he later became Louis Farrakhan, leader of The Nation of Islam in the USA.
The advent of the steel drum is acknowledged by the inclusion of  “Fire Down Below” by Beauty & the Brute Force Steel Band from 1957 and Enid Mosier’s “Boys Days” of the same year.  Most tracks though are accompanied by various combinations of sax, piano, guitar, and a percussion heavy rhythm section, and there are occasional references to Latin music. As I said at the beginning though, each one of these 42 tracks is fascinating and worth hearing.

"Lovers of the vintage sound of the Caribbean should certainly investigate the various artists double CD ‘Trinidad Calypso 1939-1959’ (Fremeaux FA5348). Amongst many gems, it does include some wonderful 50s material by Lord Kitchener, recorded in England."
Norman DARWEN – BLUES NEWS